The African kora shop answers | Frequently asked questions

Based on my experience shipping koras, the shipping costs can vary from approximately 40 EUR to 430 EUR. The final price depends on the following variables:

• The shipping box measures (dimensions and weight).
• The distance between the origin and the destination.
• Whether or not your location is within the frequent flow circuits of courier companies where they can offer lower prices (near or well conected to cities, airports, hi ways…).
• And finally, the timeframe also depends on global events such as: pandemics, import tariffs, or military conflicts between corrupted elites which destabilize energy prices and disrupt international courier lines.

(!) Please remember to provide me this data from your  side when you ask me about the shipping cost so I can check the transport cost.

I need you to send me the minimum data of (1+2) without asking you to send me 

1. Postal code number (*)

2. Name of the city/ town/ village of destination.

(*) If your postal code covers multiple areas, please specify your neighborhood name to ensure the quote is 100% accurate for your destination.

Important note: Please ensure your address appears clearly on Google (test it). If it doesn’t match well, I struggle to complete the shipping schedule and couriers often have trouble with the delivery (putting the success of the shipment at risk9.

You can hear the sound demonstrations of the koras I built in the page Sound Demos. There you will have a general idea of the quality but not all the records of each of the koras I built as it would be too much work for me.

0. Start taking a deep look around the website to get a first impression…

1. Contact me by email (my name is Carles) to discuss what you are looking for: the kora model and any specific needs you may have. I will answer all your questions and offer suggestions based on your preferences.

2. Once everything is clear, we will confirm the grand total together (instrument, shipping, and any additional items).

3. Once the grand total is agreed upon, we can discuss the payment methods.

4. I will then ship your kora (if in stock) or begin building your custom instrument (the most common case). I’ll send you photos of the making process until your kora is ready to be shipped.

5. As soon as the shipment is scheduled, you will receive an email with the tracking details and the estimated delivery date. While you monitor the progress, I will be available to help quickly and efficiently should any issues arise.

6. While you wait for your parcel to arrive, you will receive a PDF document: ‘Kora Starting Guide’. It contains very useful information about your new instrument.

6. You can contact me anytime for lifetime after-sales support.

. . .

As you can see, the process is personalized from the very start. I will address your questions and needs every step of the way: before, during, and after your purchase.”

Once we agree on the total, we can discuss the most convenient payment method: Low-fee Bank Transfer (preferred and easy), Standard Bank Transfer (High-fee), or Credit Card via PayPal (practical, but no longer the lowest-fee option nowadays).

You can split the payment with no added fees. Please note that as a small-scale artisan I don’t have the infrastructure to ship the kora until it’s fully paid. However, there’s no rush. If you need extra time after the build is finished, I’m fine to hold it safe for you.

Any acoustic kora in KORA shop can be updated to electro-acoustic version for +160 EUR.

Feel free to email me for further details or/and personal needs.

There’s no such thing as a ‘beginner’ kora. You might occasionally find small koras for children with less strings, but otherwise, there are only standard koras for adults. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, the instrument is the same.

All ‘KORA manding harps’ koras are built matching a “perfect zone” where professionals and beginners can feel the best feedback.

That being said, I always consider if there are any particularities on the customer’s side to adjust here and there if I see it’s really needed. Let me know if you have any questions about this.

To build any kor I usually need about one month (if everything goes smoothly with my current workload). However, it is not uncommon for it to take a month and a half to fully finish the instrument.

For a SEMITONES kora, I need about two months, though it may take up to two and a half months to be completed.

That said, any model can be finished sooner if I am not too busy with other orders.

I always send photos of the work in progress, so you can follow the process and stay updated during the wait.

The answer is no, I don’t have this model in stock. I only build this type of African kora upon request as they require a high level of attention and time to be built with precision, so I only start one when there is an owner really waiting for it.

Please feel free to ask me any other questions regarding this model.

When you buy from this official website, ‘KORA Manding Harps’, you are buying directly from the maker (me). There are no intermediaries (such as Etsy, eBay, or Amazon), which means no hidden fees.

Third-party platforms charge high commissions for every sale. To cover these costs and still make a living, sellers are forced to raise their prices. Often, they use misleading tactics like “free shipping”—which is never actually free, as the cost is simply hidden inside the item’s price. It’s a cycle of unnecessary costs that harms both the artisan and the buyer.

By purchasing directly from this website:

• You support my work directly: No third parties taking a cut.

• You get the real price: No inflated costs to cover platform fees.

• Total transparency: I will provide a full price breakdown before you decide.

• Direct support: You get 100% secure purchase, direct assistance from me throughout the build, and unlimited after-sales support.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. No commitment.